Car Chute

Orlando, Florida (MMD Newswire) February 2, 2012 —

ActivEngage®, the automotive industry’s premium live chat and real-time website intelligence and reporting solution, today announced that SiSTeR Technologies has integrated ActivEngage live chat into its new application – the Publisher -as part of the company’s 4DF video player. All ActivEngage clients using SiSTeR Technologies’video platform will now have live chat embedded directly into their player, creating additional lead generation opportunities.

It is common knowledge that video remains one of the most powerful ways for dealerships to showcase inventory and engage automotive Internet shoppers on their websites. Unlike most other video solutions, SiSTeR Technologies has integrated ActivEngage live chat technology into its video publisher platform and the ActiveEngage app into its 4DF player.

The Publisher allows auto dealers to add third party provider apps to the top section of the player to create a customized viewing experience for their website visitors. When the user clicks on these embedded apps, the video pauses and the app launches directly from the player. This functionality is integrated with all 4DF video players located on the dealer website, Facebook, Cars.com or AutoTrader.com. Dealers can choose from various apps including lead forms, credit applications, trade-in evaluations and chat based communication platforms to entice their video viewers to take the next step in the dealer’s online sales process.

“We are very excited about this integration with SiSTeR Technologies and allowing the consumer new and exciting ways to communicate with dealers,”said Eric Schlesinger, ActivEngage Director of Sales. “Both companies are at the cutting edge and this is yet another way we can not only help our customers but also create a much better end user experience. After all, it is all about creating the best user experience as possible.”

Israel Alpert, founder and CEO of SiSTeR Technologies, elaborated that his company, “Already delivers more than 3 million views every month and over two thirds of those views are beyond the dealer’s website. Our 4DF player is integrated into every major lead provider’s site, Facebook and is directly accessed from YouTube. Including ActivEngage’s live chat and other 4DF apps has the potential of increasing the ROI for the dealers by a factor of 5-8 times, all with no additional cost, in just seconds.”

The Publisher is provided free of charge to all auto dealers, partners and application providers of SiSTeR Technologies. Moreover, all ActivEngage clients that employ the services of SiSTeR Technologies

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DALLAS, TX (MMD Newswire) February 2, 2012 — Contact At Once!, the dealer chat software leader, and SiSTeR Technologies, the pioneer and thought leader of automated video rendering technology systems, today announced the integration of Contact At Once! dealer chat into SiSTeR’s dealer video products. Dealers who presently use Deluxe or Premium versions of Contact At Once! Dealer Edition packages and who use SiSTeR Technologies video platform, The Publisher, will now have ContactAtOnce! chat embedded directly into the video player, allowing direct, real-time dealer contact as the shopper views video footage of the vehicles offered by the dealership.

While video has proven to be an effective sales and marketing tool, it has traditionally been a one-way communication option, with little opportunity for customer engagement. By adding Contact At Once! chat to SiSTeR Technologies’ vehicle walk-a-round videos, powered by The Publisher, there is now a clear call to action – one that invites the shopper to ask questions and that builds rapport between the customer and dealership sales professionals.

Unique to the industry, The Publisher serves as an integrated marketing platform, allowing auto dealers to add multiple third-party applications to the top of the player. This results in a customized viewing experience for dealer website visitors. As the shopper clicks on one these embedded applications, the video then pauses play while the app launches directly from the player. In addition to Contact At Once! chat, dealers can choose from a variety of compatible applications, to include credit applications and trade-in evaluations, in order to entice their video viewers to take the next steps along the shopping path.

“The Contact At Once! Deluxe Partner Program is for providers of applications that complement our dealer chat solution and that, when integrated, increase the value derived by dealers who are our mutual customers,” said Director of Business Development, Lloyd Hecht. “This partnership makes video a much more interactive sales tool, as shoppers now have a direct and real-time connection to dealership sales professionals while the thought of buying that next vehicle is top of mind.”

The Publisher is provided free of charge to all auto dealers, partners and application providers of SiSTeR Technologies. Contact At Once! Dealer Edition customers at the Deluxe or Premium level, and who utilize SiSTeR Technologies Publisher, will have the live chat integration feature available at no additional charge. Contact At Once! Deluxe or Premium customers should contact their SiSTeR Technologies representative to

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J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction Remains Steady, Despite an Increase in Claims Filing and Repair Times

More Insurance Companies Are Asking Customers to File Auto Damage Claims Through Call Centers Rather than through Agents

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. (MMD Newswire) January 31, 2012 — Overall customer satisfaction with the auto claims experience remained stable during the fourth quarter of 2011, despite an increase in the number of auto insurance claims and the amount of time needed to repair vehicles, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Auto Claims Satisfaction StudySM–Wave 1 released today.

An increase in claims due to weather-related damage led to higher volumes at repair shops during the fourth quarter of 2011. For vehicles that were ultimately repaired, it took an average of 8.5 days for customers to get their repaired vehicle back from the shop, nearly one full day longer than the average of 7.8 days during the third quarter of 2011. However, overall customer satisfaction remained relatively flat, averaging 855 on a 1,000-point scale during the fourth quarter of 2011, compared with 854 during the third quarter and 848 during the second quarter of 2011.

“Auto body shops handled the increased repair volume well, and insurance companies did a good job of keeping their customers informed, which helped manage customer expectations,” said Jeremy Bowler, senior director of the insurance practice at J.D. Power and Associates. “Communication between insurance companies and their customers is vital to satisfaction during the claims process. Customers tend to be significantly more satisfied when their insurer lets them know when they can expect their vehicle to be fixed and then provides updates along the way, than are customers whose insurance company provides less communication.”

While the frequency with which insurance companies communicate with their customers plays a vital role in overall satisfaction, the way in which customers communicate with their insurance company also has a notable effect.

The study finds important shifts in the way customers report vehicle damage to their insurance company. For example, several agency-based carriers appear to be encouraging their customers to contact a call center rather than their agent to file a claim, a practice sometimes referred to as direct first notice of loss. While customer satisfaction with the direct method is steadily improving–from an average of 849 during the second quarter of 2011 to 862 during the fourth quarter–satisfaction is still greater among those customers who file directly with

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J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Many New-Vehicle Buyers Avoid Certain Brands Due to “Conventional Wisdom” about Reliability, Rather Than Specific Information

Avoidance of Models Due to Foreign Origin Increases to Historically High Level

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: (MMD Newswire) January 26, 2012 — More than 40 percent of new-vehicle buyers who avoided a particular model due to quality or reliability concerns say they based their opinions on conventional wisdom or common knowledge rather than personal experience, reviews, ratings or recommendations, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Avoider Study,SM released today.

The study, now in its ninth year, examines the reasons consumers fail to consider–or avoid–particular models when shopping for a new vehicle.

Perceptions of vehicle reliability have consistently been a prominent reason for avoiding a particular brand or model. The study finds that, among buyers who avoid a particular model due to concerns about quality and reliability, a sizable proportion–43 percent–say their avoidance was due to “the brand’s vehicles, in general, are known to have poor quality/reliability.” A smaller percentage–38 percent–based their avoidance decision on ratings and reviews, while an even smaller proportion–14 percent–based their decision on prior ownership of the model.

“The fact that so many new-vehicle buyers may be basing their opinions about quality and reliability on pre-conceived notions, rather than concrete information or data, demonstrates how important it is for automakers to promote the quality and reliability of their models,” said Jon Osborn, research director at J.D. Power and Associates. “For some brands, namely those that have created marked improvements in their quality and reliability in recent years, it’s even more vital to tell their improvement story, rather than just waiting for perceptions to change over time.”

According to Osborn, it’s also important for consumers to challenge their perceptions about what they may think they know about the quality and reliability of a particular model. The automotive industry has undergone significant quality and dependability improvement during the past decade, and fierce competition has created an environment in which only the strongest brands and models can survive. Although a brand or model may have had a poor reputation for quality or reliability in the past, actual quality or reliability performance may have improved since then. Seeking reviews and recommendations from trusted sources is particularly helpful in making consideration or avoidance decisions.

The study also finds that the percentage of buyers who avoided import models because of their origin has increased to 14 percent in 2012–the highest level since the

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J.D. Power and LMC Automotive Report: January New-Vehicle Retail Sales Show Continued Strength from Robust 2011 Close

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: (MMD Newswire) January 25, 2012 — New-vehicle retail sales performance in January is abating fears of any reversal from the strong close to 2011, according to a monthly sales forecast developed by J.D. Power and Associates Power Information Network® (PIN) and LMC Automotive.

Retail Light-Vehicle Sales

January new-vehicle retail sales are projected to come in at 681,000 units, an increase of 6 percent from January 2011. This represents a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 10.9 million units, which is lower than the selling rate in December 2011 but well above January 2011. Retail transactions are the most accurate measurement of true underlying consumer demand for new vehicles.

“Retail light-vehicle sales in January are showing stability coming off the 2011 high note in December,” said John Humphrey, senior vice president of global automotive operations at J.D. Power and Associates. “Vehicles are currently remaining on dealer lots for fewer than 50 days on average, which is the lowest level for January for the past several years. This is a good indication that pent-up demand is beginning to return to the market.”

Total Light-Vehicle Sales

Total light-vehicle sales in January are expected to come in at 869,600 units, which is 6 percent higher than in January 2011. Fleet sales are expected to increase by 9 percent compared with January 2011, accounting for 22 percent of total sales.

J.D. Power and LMC Automotive U.S. Sales and SAAR Comparisons
                         January 2012(1)               December 2011            January 2011
New-vehicle retail       681,000 units                 1,040,035 units          644,695 units
sales                    (6% higher than January 2011)
Total vehicle sales      869,600 units                 1,240,263 units          817,621 units
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UK (MMD Newswire) January 20, 2012 – - Source: Department for Transport (National)

Passengers travelling between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow are set to benefit from an extra 28,000 seats a day under a new flexible franchise agreement which will allow more services to be scheduled around busy periods.

In addition, a long franchise of up to 15 years for the West Coast Main Line will encourage the new operator to invest in improvements at stations and help drive down excessive costs. Other benefits for passengers will include the introduction of smart ticketing technology, Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said today as she launched the Invitation to Tender.

Theresa Villiers said:

“Passengers will welcome the 28,000 additional seats this new franchise will deliver everyday on what is becoming one of the UK’s busiest rail lines. A longer, more flexible franchise will encourage private sector investment, for example in improving stations. It will also promote greater efficiency to enable improvements to be made whilst driving down costs.

“The introduction of new requirements on passenger satisfaction will mean the operator has to focus strongly on the issues that matter most to passengers; and the roll out of smart ticketing will provide many more passengers with greater convenience and the sort of advantages already enjoyed in the capital.”

The new franchise will run from December 2012 to March 2026, with an option for the Department to extend for up to 20 months.

A total of 106 new ‘Pendolino’ carriages are being added to the West Coast route, enabling four new train sets to be introduced and 31 existing trains to be lengthened from nine to 11 carriages.

A new flexible franchise agreement gives bidders the flexibility to vary timetables on individual days of the week to cater for changes in demand, enabling the future operator to provide better services for passengers, whilst protecting existing services by specifying a minimum number of stops at each station.

Notes to editors

1. Virgin Trains’ existing contract to run services on the West Coast Main Line expires on 9 December 2012.

2. Details published of the new franchise that will take over from 9 December 2012, are set out by the Department in an Invitation to Tender (ITT) which can be accessed at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-intercity-west-coast

3. The Invitation to Tender follows a consultation designed to give the public and stakeholders a chance to have their say on what they wanted from the new franchise.

4. The proposed Train Service Specification for new Inter City West Coast

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Press Release – For Immediate Release

January 19, 2012 (MMD Newswire) – - Mr Robert Winfrey, a guest writer for Web-Est, shared his thoughts on ways to use the estimating process to keep your customers from taking their business elsewhere. “Alot of the time when insurers do not inspect a drivable car they tell the customer to go get three estimates. Well 9 times out of 10 unless that customer is sold on you and your shop, they are going to go with the cheapest of the estimates.” Mr. Winfrey goes on to share various methods that he’s learned for cutting costs while still protecting the shop’s bottom line. You can read the full post by visiting our Auto Body Corner blog.

About Web-Est:

Web-Est is a provider of Collision Estimating Software offered at $99 per month. They use the Mitchell International Database and is accepted by all major insurance companies. Their Internet technology make their program accessible from any location. More details online: http://web-est.com

Source: Web-Est (a logic-based collision repair estimating program)

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Press Release – For Immediate Release

January 19, 2012 (MMD Newswire) – - Mr Robert Winfrey, a guest writer for Web-Est, shared his thoughts on ways to use the estimating process to keep your customers from taking their business elsewhere. “Alot of the time when insurers do not inspect a drivable car they tell the customer to go get three estimates. Well 9 times out of 10 unless that customer is sold on you and your shop, they are going to go with the cheapest of the estimates.” Mr. Winfrey goes on to share various methods that he’s learned for cutting costs while still protecting the shop’s bottom line. You can read the full post by visiting our Auto Body Corner blog.

About Web-Est:

Web-Est is a provider of Collision Estimating Software offered at $99 per month. They use the Mitchell International Database and is accepted by all major insurance companies. Their Internet technology make their program accessible from any location. More details online: http://web-est.com

Source: Web-Est (a logic-based collision repair estimating program)

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UK (MMD Newswire) January 17, 2012 –Source: Department for Transport (National)

Van buyers will be able to receive 20% – up to £8000 – off the cost of a plug-in van, Transport Minister Norman Baker and Business Minister Mark Prisk announced today.

This is an extension of the Plug-In Car Grant which offers 25% – up to £5000 – to motorists buying a new plug-in car. Ministers have also re-confirmed there is funding secured for this grant until 2015.

The purpose of the consumer grant is to enable the purchase of ultra-low carbon vehicles which could otherwise have been unaffordable. The consumer will also benefit from lower running costs over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said:

“Electric vehicles are the arrowhead for a low carbon revolution in motoring and as more models come to market we’ll begin to see sales gather pace.

“Car buyers have had a year to take advantage of our grant and now it’s time for van buyers to get their chance to go electric. This is great news for businesses given the lower running costs of these vehicles – fleet buyers tell us that this is one of the most important factor influencing their decision on what to buy.

“It is radical initiatives like these which will allow us to create a transport system that both cuts carbon and is an engine for economic growth.”

Business Minister Mark Prisk said:

“Supporting ultra-low carbon technology in vans makes sense. An upfront purchase grant, when combined with lower running costs and tax benefits, can make switching to an ultra-low carbon van an attractive choice for businesses.

“The technology also fits well with a large portion of the van market that rely on short urban trips to and from base.”

From today ultra-low carbon van manufacturers will be able to apply to be part of the Plug-In Van Grant – which will help to improve local air quality in cities, reduce carbon emissions and meet Government carbon reduction targets.

To be eligible for the scheme, vans will have to meet performance criteria to ensure safety, range, and ultra-low tailpipe emissions. Consumers, both business and private will receive the discount at the point of purchase.

There are currently 10 cars eligible for the Plug-In Car Grant – 5 of which came onto the market in 2011, with the other half expected to be available to purchase this year. During the first year of the scheme, over 1000 eligible vehicles were registered and, up to 31 December 2011,

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Mesa, AZ (MMD Newswire) January 17, 2012 — Iveda Solutions Inc (OTC: IVDA), an official sponsor of the 41st Annual Barrett-JacksonCollector Car Auction, will provide cloud-based video surveillance services to the week-long event (January 15-22) at Westworld in Scottsdale, AZ. Iveda Solutions will use IvedaSentryTM, which is its real-time, remote surveillance service. IvedaSentryTM utilizes the Internet, software, and human analytics to protect thousands of classic and high-end collector cars that will be showcased during the event.

For the 4th consecutive year, Iveda Solutions, will enhance security measures at Barrett-Jackson using surveillance cameras and Iveda Solutions’ highly-trained Intervention Specialists to watch the cameras remotely in real time. Barrett-Jackson’ executive staff and security personnel will receive Daily Surveillance Reports (DSR) with time and date stamped video snapshots following each surveillance shift.

High-value areas will be under close surveillance, utilizing human analytics, rather than software analytics. Humans can accurately assess a situation in real time and call on-site security, the police, or other first responders when necessary.

“With more than 250,000 national and international visitors attracted to this event annually, IvedaSentryTM helps Barrett-Jackson in augmenting on-site security and putting additional eyes on the prize,ensuring both the safety of the crowd and the protection of the cars,” said David Ly, President and CEO of Iveda Solutions.

About Iveda Solutions

Iveda Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: IVDA) is a premier online surveillance technology innovator and Managed Video Services provider. Based in Mesa, AZ, with a subsidiary in Taiwan (MEGAsys), the company develops and markets enterprise-class video hosting and real-time remote surveillance services. Iveda Solutions has a SAFETY Act Designation by the Department of Homeland Security as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology provider. For more information call 800-385-8618 or visit www.ivedasolutions.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially from those expected due to a variety of risk factors. Iveda Solutions’ business is subject to significant risks and uncertainties discussed more thoroughly in Iveda Solutions’ SEC filings, including but not limited to, its report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and its subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements made herein are qualified by such risk factors and readers are advised to read such factors carefully. Iveda Solutions undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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